NAHL adopts four-player import rule

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) has announced that all 24 NAHL teams will now be allowed to roster up to four import players on their 23-man rosters. The new rule will take effect immediately.

An import player is defined as a player who is a non-United States citizen. The NAHL had previously had a rule of two import players allowed on their rosters. The new rule will allow the NAHL to be on par with the same rule that exists in other non-pay to play leagues.

“When the two-player import rule was instituted 10 years ago, the NAHL was an 11-team league. Today, the NAHL is a 24-team league with over twice as many opportunities for United States-born players to earn roster spots at the non-pay to play level. The time was right for USA Hockey’s import rule to evolve to meet the needs of the current junior hockey landscape,” remarked NAHL Commissioner and President Mark Frankenfeld.